Town pays respects to Prince Philip

The borough has mourned the death of the Duke of Edinburgh who died last week at the age of 99.

After news broke on Friday that he had died peacefully at Windsor Castle that morning, MP Damian Green and bosses at Ashford Borough Council joined those across the world in paying their respects.

A statement from the Royal Family said: “It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

“His Royal Highness passed away peacefully at Windsor Castle.

“The Royal Family joins with people around the world in mourning his loss.”

As ABC flew the Union flag outside the Civic Centre at half mast as a

1969 1958

December 19, 1958: Her Majesty The Queen with vicar of Smeeth, the Rev O W T Evans, leaves morning service at the parish church followed by Princess Anne, the Duke of Edinburgh and Lord and Lady Mountbatten mark of respect, Mr Green expressed his sadness at the news.

“The Duke of Edinburgh serves as a lesson to everyone in public service. A lifetime of doing his duty while being himself,” he said.

In a statement the borough council said: “We share the sentiments of loss and sorrow felt all over the world at the passing of such an eminent patriot, whose life has been devoted to the service of his country as well as advocating peace and the importance of nations working together.

‘No books of condolence will be available for the public to sign at the Civic Centre due to the coronavirus pandemic but the public will be able to sign the national e-book of condolence.”

The duke – father to the Prince of

Wales, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex – was just two months away from his 100th birthday in June.

In 2017, he retired from public duties and transferred his role of colonel-in-chief of The Rifles in a ceremony in Windsor to the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla, last July.

He had spent a month in hospital until March 16 when he returned to Windsor.

During the Covid-19 crisis, he stayed with the Queen at Windsor in HMS Bubble – the nickname given to the couple’s reduced household of devoted staff during lockdown.

The duke’s ceremonial royal funeral will be held at St George’s Chapel, in the grounds of Windsor Castle, at 3pm on Saturday. The event will be televised.

1970 1970: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Andrew and Princess Anne, escorted by Canon Neville Sharp, were introduced to churchwarden Percy Woods and other church officials after the celebrations to mark the 500th anniversary of the rebuilding of Ashford Parish Church

1957 On April 5, 1957, crowds lined the approach to Mersham church as Her Majesty The Queen and Prince Philip joined Lord and Lady Brabourne for a service conducted by Rector, the Rev H McDonald

In August 1949, the Duke took to the field for Mersham-le-Hatch against Aldington while staying for the weekend with Lord and Lady Brabourne 1949

Picture: Andy Clark The Union flag flying at half mast outside Ashford Borough Council’s base

1968

1958 Prince Philip meets officials at the 1969 Ashford Cattle Show In November 1958, Jane Nye, a student of Wye College, was photographed telling the Duke about an experiment she was conducting when he visited the village December 1968: The Duke of Edinburgh visited the 100th Ashford Fat Stock show with its president, Lord Brabourne